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Nkiru Books was the oldest African-American bookstore in Brooklyn, New York City, USA. Founded by Leothy Miller Owens in 1976, the bookstore was bought by Talib Kweli and Mos Def in 2000. Thereafter it was operated as the Nkiru Center for Education and Culture, a nonprofit organization promoting literacy and multicultural awareness for people of color. In its last incarnation it was located at 732 Washington Avenue. ==History== In 1976 Leothy Miller Owens was a young educator when she started Nkiru in her home. The first African American bookstore in Brooklyn, it was New York City's second. Within a short period of time the store expanded into its own space at 76 St. Marks Place. Ms. Miller Owens died in 1992. Her mother, Adelaide Miller, ran the store from 1992 to 1999, when the store came into severe financial distress.〔Osborne, G. (2001) "Nkiru Preserving a Legacy." ''Black Issues Book Review.'' January.〕 In the early 1990s, while in his teens, Talib Kweli worked at a different local bookstore in Brooklyn that sold mainstream books. While there he became concerned about the absence of literature for African Americans, and sought to work at Nkiru instead. Initially, there were no positions available; however, Kweli made a strong pitch for a job, and soon a part-time spot was offered to him. Becoming intimately acquainted with the store, Kweli decided that if he ever had any money, Nkiru would be where he invested it. In 1998, after the release of their joint album ''Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star'', Mos Def and Talib Kweli decided to purchase the store. That year they held a massive fund raiser, generating money to relocate Nkiru in October 2000.〔Caramanica, J. (1999) ("It's Nation Time. Again. A new vanguard of rap activists takes to the streets." ) ''Village Voice''. 10/1/99. Retrieved 6/25/07.〕 With the move to 732 Washington Avenue in Brooklyn, they made the business into a nonprofit organization, naming it the Nkiru Center for Education and Culture.〔(nd) (The Nkiru Center ). OkayPlayer.com. Retrieved 6/25/07.〕 The non-profit Nkiru Center for Education and Culture organized literacy projects and conducts workshops, storytelling, and lectures.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/buyers/nychome-neighborhoods-brooklyn-prospectheights.shtml )〕 Starting in 2000, Nkiru has hosted open mics and spoken word poetry sessions. The store offered titles from African, Latino and Caribbean writers, including many children's books.〔(nd) (Books, music and video. ) Urban Baby. Retrieved 6/25/07.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Nkiru Center for Education and Culture」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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